gat1 si6 fan2吉士粉
Jyutpinggat1 si6 fan2
Yalegāt sih fán
Definition
Custard powder, used in cooking and baking.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Custard powder is a staple in Hong Kong style bakeries and cha chaan tengs, often used to give pastries and sauces a distinct yellow hue and vanilla aroma. It is frequently added to dough for pineapple buns or mixed into fillings to achieve a smooth, creamy texture. Unlike Western style custard made from scratch with eggs and milk, this powder is a convenient shortcut widely accepted in local home cooking.
Measure word
gun3罐gunExamples
You need to add a little custard powder to make this dessert.
Is there any custard powder left at home?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with cornstarch, which is 粟粉. While they share a similar powdery texture, they are not interchangeable because custard powder contains added flavouring and colouring.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Particle
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
